Downtown in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Enoch Pratt Free Library
Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck, April 16, 2008
1. New Enoch Pratt Free Library Marker
In 1882, the merchant Enoch Pratt, wishing to make a gift to his adopted city which would benefit all of her citizens, gave Baltimore $1,058,000 to establish a public library.
The original building fronted on Mulberry Street. Designed by the Baltimore architect Charles Carson, it opened in 1886. By the late 1820's, the patrons and volumes had outgrown the building. The present structure, completed in 1933, represented a major departure from the tradition of building libraries with monumental entrances atop long, intimidating flights of stairs. The building was designed by Clyde and Nelson Fritz with consulting architects E.L. Tilton and A.M. Githens under the supervision of the Library Director Joseph Wheeler. Wheeler envisioned the library as a publicly owned "department store business" in which taxpayers invested money and from which they expected a return. To make the library approachable and inviting, the building was designed with a street-level entrance and twelve display windows with exhibits the passing public can see at a glance.
The design of the Pratt has been borrowed extensively in this country and abroad.
Erected 2008 by the City of Baltimore, William Donald Schaefer, mayor, rededicated 2008, Shiela Dixon, mayor.
Topics and series. This historical marker
this page online
Location. 39° 17.667′ N, 76° 37.02′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Cathedral Street and West Mulberry Street (U.S. 40), on the right when traveling south on Cathedral Street. The marker is just to the left of the main entrance to the library. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore MD 21201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Creating an American Culture: The Golden Age of Baltimore (within shouting distance of this marker); Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (within shouting distance of this marker); The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (within shouting distance of this marker); Expanding the American Intellect: Icons and Iconoclasts (within shouting distance of this marker); James Cardinal Gibbons Monument
Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck, March 3, 2007
2. Main entrance of the Enoch Pratt Free Library
The marker can be seen just to the left of the door.
More about this marker. A photograph on the marker displays the, "Original building by Charles Carson. Enoch Pratt also built six branch libraries modeled on this design."
In 2008, this marker replaced one with almost identical text.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker replaced the linked marker.
Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck, March 3, 2007
3. Enoch Pratt Free Library Marker
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 15, 2021
4. Plaque at the Cathedral Street entrance of the library
Internet Archive
5. Enoch Pratt
from The Biographical Dictionary of America, 1906, by Rossiter Johnson.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 20, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,001 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 16, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 2, 3. submitted on February 20, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 4. submitted on February 15, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 5. submitted on August 8, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
